:00:33. > :00:39.Good Morning. We Are Up Bright And Early For The Holiday Weekend And
:00:40. > :00:44.With Very Good Reason. One Of Our Semifinals Today They Have Finished
:00:45. > :00:52.Early Tonight And Will Be Reflecting On The Victory Later But There Is A
:00:53. > :01:00.Whole Lot Of Money Share. It is a Blockbuster, it really is between
:01:01. > :01:05.Mark Selby and Neil Robertson, the world number one. The Australian
:01:06. > :01:16.claimed this title four years ago but is arguably an even better
:01:17. > :01:20.player now than he was then. Neil Robertson's technique is absolutely
:01:21. > :01:24.superb. If ever you want an example of pushing the cue through gun
:01:25. > :01:29.barrel straight, that is what you get with Neil Robertson. That is
:01:30. > :01:33.what makes him one of the best long potters in the game. His temperament
:01:34. > :01:37.is superb. He would have made a great poker player. You never know
:01:38. > :01:43.when he is under pressure. He keeps that same poker face whether he has
:01:44. > :01:50.missed an easy shot knocked in a century break and that is one of the
:01:51. > :01:53.key ingredients the Aussie has. Neil Robertson is a very consistent
:01:54. > :01:58.player, a great long potter and that is the reason the public, watching
:01:59. > :02:02.play. With regards to his break-building, it certainly has
:02:03. > :02:05.improved over the last three or four seasons and it shows in the fact
:02:06. > :02:10.that he has now made over 300 competitive centuries. He certainly
:02:11. > :02:13.has become one of the most consistent players in the game after
:02:14. > :02:16.dropping off the main tour in the early part of the millennium, he
:02:17. > :02:22.came storming back and won tournaments all over the world and
:02:23. > :02:26.is one of the rare players that has won the big three, the UK, the
:02:27. > :02:30.Masters and the World Championship. He is going to have to play his
:02:31. > :02:34.natural game. Sometimes, he doesn't play an all-out attacking game. The
:02:35. > :02:43.more attacking key is, the more dangerous he becomes.
:02:44. > :02:53.I was born in Leicester on the 19th of June 1983. My nickname is the
:02:54. > :03:00.Jester from Leicester. I turned professional in 1999. In 2007, I
:03:01. > :03:11.reached the final of the World Championship. I won the Masters at
:03:12. > :03:19.Wembley in 2008. I won my first ranking title at the Welsh Open in
:03:20. > :03:24.2008. In 2010, I'd beat Ronnie O'Sullivan in a final frame decider
:03:25. > :03:35.at the Masters. In 2012, I won the UK Championship. I won the Masters
:03:36. > :03:40.again in 2013. And for the third time, we are awaiting the call and
:03:41. > :03:44.Neil is doing so in the company of his three-year-old son, Alexander.
:03:45. > :03:49.He was born a few days after Neil won the world title in 2010. He is
:03:50. > :03:56.going to be bought on the 12th of May. There he is, keeping in --
:03:57. > :04:06.keeping his dad company. -- he is going to be four on the 12th of May.
:04:07. > :04:10.Selby, 9-7 ahead in this unfolding drama. If you are just coming to
:04:11. > :04:14.after big Friday night, what a big wake-up call this promises to be.
:04:15. > :04:19.Let's go with MC Rob Walker. Thank you, Hazel. Ladies and gentlemen,
:04:20. > :04:26.this has the makings of a great semifinal. What a massive prospect
:04:27. > :04:29.with these two world-class players. What a shame there is only room for
:04:30. > :04:30.one of them to join Ronnie O'Sullivan in tomorrow's World
:04:31. > :04:46.Championship final. Please well, a player who can hold
:04:47. > :04:51.his nerve on the biggest occasions of the biggest stages. On his 10th
:04:52. > :04:54.visit to the critical, he is bidding for his second appearance in the
:04:55. > :04:59.final. He has made the Masters is only in recent years, lifting the
:05:00. > :05:04.trophy three times. He is also a former Age UK champion. One of
:05:05. > :05:11.snooker's finest ambassadors, he always plays with a smile on his
:05:12. > :05:16.face, that is why he is the Jester. Mark Selby.
:05:17. > :05:40.And his opponent, what a fabulous fortnight for this rout Australian.
:05:41. > :05:45.World champion and when -- 2010, he completed the triple crown at the UK
:05:46. > :05:48.Championships in December. Here in Sheffield, he has been the breaks
:05:49. > :05:53.chaser, the history maker, 100 centuries in a single season but now
:05:54. > :05:57.there is a title to win, can he take one step closer to another big one?
:05:58. > :06:02.Ladies and gentlemen, it is the world mumble one, can you hear the
:06:03. > :06:06.thunder from down under, he is the century and, he is Neil Robertson.
:06:07. > :06:10.-- Centurion. MUSIC: "Heart Of Courage" by Two
:06:11. > :06:31.Steps From Hell. And backing the seas in the
:06:32. > :06:37.commentary box, John Virgo and Dennis Taylor. Good morning, Hazel,
:06:38. > :06:38.and a good morning to everyone watching. What a session we are in
:06:39. > :06:53.for today. Mark Selby had a 50 plus break, 53,
:06:54. > :07:00.and then Neil Robertson had a magnificent clearance of 61 to pinch
:07:01. > :07:06.it. It is going to be a great session, this. Looking forward to
:07:07. > :07:13.it. Yes, we always say there are certain frames that can be pivotal
:07:14. > :07:16.and you wonder whether that's 16 frame could be something that Mark
:07:17. > :07:24.Selby, at the end of this much, might look back on. The one that
:07:25. > :07:27.turned it against him? But lots of snooker to be played. Eight frames
:07:28. > :07:57.to be played in this third session. Pot success at 93 cents for cell B.
:07:58. > :08:03.90% is pretty good as well. Not much separating them in the long pot to
:08:04. > :08:15.spark them. -- department. And Mark, as you would expect, edging the
:08:16. > :08:18.safety. But look at that. There was a fascinating opening session
:08:19. > :08:31.because we had really good tactical play and then we had two clearances.
:08:32. > :08:34.If this wasn't the first frame, I don't think he would have any
:08:35. > :08:54.hesitation playing this first pot. Well, he thought he wouldn't leave
:08:55. > :08:58.anything but there was a red at the bottom of the cost on the left-hand
:08:59. > :09:02.side that looks pottable to the left middle. If it was to go in, I think
:09:03. > :09:32.it would be beyond the black. This was Mark's attempt at the long
:09:33. > :09:40.pot, there. But he finished up hitting it on the wrong side. I
:09:41. > :09:47.wonder if it drifted slightly. Yes, either that, Dennis, or it was ten
:09:48. > :09:54.in the morning shot. -- at ten o'clock in the morning shot. Both of
:09:55. > :10:10.these players have been getting up early. That red is in the middle
:10:11. > :10:19.pocket. Duke couldn't believe a red could come out of the pack and
:10:20. > :10:23.finish up in the middle pocket. How this sprang out of the pack is
:10:24. > :10:28.amazing. The tricky little roll up to the yellow, here. And with the
:10:29. > :10:38.reds open, if he gets it type, Mark could be in trouble. -- if he gets
:10:39. > :10:48.it right. How would one go into the middle pocket from that position?
:10:49. > :10:52.Amazing. And he is trying to land on the red that is near the right
:10:53. > :10:53.corner pocket. But I am not sure if there was a path through to that.
:10:54. > :11:22.There was red in the way. He is usually very good at getting
:11:23. > :11:28.out of these snookers. He is looking to see if he can get twice across
:11:29. > :11:38.the table. It is very tricky with the blue where it is. That is what
:11:39. > :12:04.he is trying there. He has hit the wrong side of it.
:12:05. > :12:12.He could play for the black. The black looks like it is tight against
:12:13. > :12:18.the cushion. You have to be so accurate if you are using the pace.
:12:19. > :12:39.So, the first chance to Neil Robertson, one begging.
:12:40. > :12:47.That is a little unlucky if he has covered the pink. He might just be
:12:48. > :13:01.OK. It is tight but I think he can just get past the red.
:13:02. > :13:10.Well, where has he landed here? I think he put everything into the pot
:13:11. > :13:12.there because it was a bit tight and he is out of position. So, not the
:13:13. > :13:34.best. Both players just taking a while to
:13:35. > :13:59.settle in for this very important session.
:14:00. > :14:04.He will be disappointed that he did not make more of that opportunity.
:14:05. > :14:12.As you say, Dennis, a very big session, this. Neil Robertson lost
:14:13. > :14:15.the first session 5-3. They squared the second session but Neil
:14:16. > :14:21.Robertson needs to win this session, you feel. If he loses this
:14:22. > :14:22.session, he might have too much to come back from in the final session
:14:23. > :14:49.this evening. So, Mark, quite happy to go back. It
:14:50. > :14:55.is very thin. This cue ball could battle in the jaws and stay and this
:14:56. > :15:15.end of the table. -- rattle in the jaws.
:15:16. > :15:22.There is another escape route the meal. There was another option,
:15:23. > :15:44.there was one he can get down. Are you happy with this, Mark? I
:15:45. > :15:47.have to warn you, you have to hit it or you will forfeit the frame. He
:15:48. > :16:12.can come down off that red. He can't really afford to try the
:16:13. > :16:15.same shot again. I think he is looking at that red that I
:16:16. > :16:28.mentioned. He would have to be pretty accurate.
:16:29. > :16:41.That is pretty good. It may pot, though, this red, into the right
:16:42. > :16:59.corner. He has got one to the left corner also.
:17:00. > :17:17.Good pot. Nice solid opening red. The choice of blue or possibly the
:17:18. > :17:22.brown. He hid this really well, right in the heart of the pocket. If
:17:23. > :17:32.he plays this well, he may have to play a little cannon. Just hit it
:17:33. > :17:38.nicely. Got the pink still in the open. He may not bother with the
:17:39. > :17:44.blacks just yet. He is looking at that, John, I am wondering if he
:17:45. > :17:47.would love to screw the red into the left and just roll the black along
:17:48. > :17:54.the cushion because the red is over the right corner pocket. We know how
:17:55. > :17:55.tired these pockets are. So, he may just elect to play for the blue
:17:56. > :18:16.again rather than risk that. He did go for the blue and he is at
:18:17. > :18:30.slinky inch perfect. A decent chance, this. -- he is
:18:31. > :18:40.slinky inch perfect. A decent inch perfect. This will clear the
:18:41. > :18:56.pink. He can get nicely onto the pink and he...
:18:57. > :19:10.Back for the blue again from that position.
:19:11. > :19:18.He did lead 5-2, Mark, but Neil Robertson bounced right back with
:19:19. > :19:26.three frames in a row to level. It wouldn't be a bad time to open up
:19:27. > :20:05.a three frame advantage again. I think it is very important, that
:20:06. > :20:07.is why he is taking his time, very important to win this frame in this
:20:08. > :20:44.visit. I think the one he is looking at is
:20:45. > :20:53.a little bit tight. He is making sure. There is plenty of room for
:20:54. > :20:58.the red that he was looking at so he can play it this time if he wants.
:20:59. > :21:15.The left of the three reds there, just behind the pink.
:21:16. > :21:21.He has just let it run through a little bit further than he intended
:21:22. > :21:25.though it is a change of plan again. It was a stunning run through and he
:21:26. > :21:31.sent it through about three or four inches than he wanted. Now, he has
:21:32. > :21:56.got to take the cut into the left corner.
:21:57. > :22:09.A bit PC for the blue. This isn't ideal. -- a bit pacey. This yellow
:22:10. > :22:20.will put him 55 point infant with 75 remaining. -- in front. He has
:22:21. > :22:28.played that well. Just red and the colour needed. Well, that was
:22:29. > :22:33.amazing, how he got onto the red perfectly this time. The other shot,
:22:34. > :22:37.he only had a few inches to make the cue ball moved to get on it and then
:22:38. > :22:39.he has played this and screwed it all the way back up to the table
:22:40. > :22:57.into the ideal spot. So, this red to go 62 in front with
:22:58. > :23:11.just 59 remaining. Just the start he was looking for.
:23:12. > :23:57.Well, that is the same, more or less secure.
:23:58. > :24:24.He was gifted this opportunity from Neil. But after losing the last
:24:25. > :24:36.frame of the second session, Mark Selby, when he looked certain, he
:24:37. > :24:41.will be pleased to have put this frame away with one scoring visit
:24:42. > :24:53.which is always a confidence booster.
:24:54. > :25:04.Looking very good here. One more good pot and he will have the chance
:25:05. > :25:09.of the century break. He has made 46 centuries this season which normally
:25:10. > :25:15.is excellent but when you think of Neil Robertson, well past 100, I
:25:16. > :26:10.think it is 102 centuries he has made now.
:26:11. > :26:22.We have had 52 centuries so far, getting closer to the 55 centuries
:26:23. > :26:27.that was made last year. We know how tricky these are. He would just play
:26:28. > :26:32.a dead weight and hope that it drops in. It is there, it clung to the
:26:33. > :26:39.cushion. What a start for Mark Selby. You cannot do any better than
:26:40. > :26:48.when the frame with a century break and he extends his lead, he is now
:26:49. > :26:53.three ahead again. What a start for Mark Selby there. He looked very
:26:54. > :26:57.relaxed, very comfortable. Both players just at the start maybe a
:26:58. > :27:02.little edgy which is quite understandable, the opening frame of
:27:03. > :27:07.this very important session. And Neil got in first. If he had been
:27:08. > :27:09.able to drop this in, but he had to force it to get up for the pink or
:27:10. > :27:16.blue. I suggested he played for them force it to get up for the pink or
:27:17. > :27:18.back. It was tight to the cushion. If we look at the end of Mark's
:27:19. > :27:24.breaks, when he was If we look at the end of Mark's
:27:25. > :27:28.because it was tight, it just clings to the cushion. I am a little bit
:27:29. > :27:34.surprised, trying to force it up the table, using a little bit of side
:27:35. > :27:37.that close to the object ball, you have to make an allowance for the
:27:38. > :27:41.throw and he did not make enough of an allowance. Yes, he thought he
:27:42. > :27:47.would make sure of it and not risk the black. The black was almost
:27:48. > :27:54.touching the cushion. Cushion and ball at the same time and it clings
:27:55. > :27:56.to the cushion. If it is just oft the cushion, I don't mind refusing
:27:57. > :28:15.it. So, that is the first frame of the
:28:16. > :28:21.session gone for Neil Robertson. As I say, I just get the feeling, OK,
:28:22. > :28:27.don't lose this session, if he can win it, he will be going into this
:28:28. > :28:32.Evening Post Mac session all square, or maybe a couple of frames
:28:33. > :28:38.in it. So, there is a lot to play for. But Mark Selby, that was a
:28:39. > :28:47.great start, and that will give him great confidence to push on here.
:28:48. > :28:57.Well, you can't get any closer than that without it going in. He struck
:28:58. > :29:19.it beautifully. It just caught the near jaw. Fractions.
:29:20. > :29:26.A Neil Robertson special. There is an angle on the blue here. This
:29:27. > :29:36.time, off to cushion is and that is pretty good. I thought for a moment
:29:37. > :29:42.he was going to be unlucky there. He just caught the edge of the reds.
:29:43. > :29:47.But look at that red that has just come out of the pack. That was a
:29:48. > :29:51.good shot. I think he would like to play this and hold for the black but
:29:52. > :29:57.I am not certain he can. If he goes back up the table, he have to try
:29:58. > :30:05.and find the gap. And he didn't. He didn't find the gap. And he is not
:30:06. > :30:21.on the pink. Just a safety shot left. A bit careless, really.
:30:22. > :30:31.Well, he didn't play the pot. The crowd giving him a nice round of
:30:32. > :30:35.applause. It looked like it was just a nice pot. But he didn't intend the
:30:36. > :31:12.yellow to go in! I'm wondering if he can see enough
:31:13. > :31:18.of this red to pot it into the middle pocket. He is very close to
:31:19. > :31:29.the other red. But that's what he is looking at.
:31:30. > :31:46.If he gets it he is on the black. But that other red is blocking it.
:31:47. > :31:58.That was marking what we call the John Virgo position there! You've
:31:59. > :31:59.got a good memory! Any way he didn't get tight to the baulk cushion and
:32:00. > :32:20.he has left a pot on here for Neil. If there is one thing you put your
:32:21. > :32:23.finger on in the second session, the eight frames yesterday, he started
:32:24. > :32:28.off very well in the first four, kneel, he was potting all these long
:32:29. > :32:34.pots, similar to this and after the interval he just lost his edge with
:32:35. > :32:57.his long potting. And that is a worry.
:32:58. > :33:02.That last attempt at a long pot, have a look at the red here. That
:33:03. > :33:17.jumped. So that didn't help. We always talk about the advantage
:33:18. > :33:24.of leaving the cue ball near the baulk cushion.
:33:25. > :33:36.It's very straight. So that's all he could do really. If he could have
:33:37. > :33:38.got his hand on the table, he could have stunned that red in and I would
:33:39. > :34:05.have fancied him to pot it. There is two types of safety shot
:34:06. > :34:09.that Neil can play. He can try and open the reds up, or just play one
:34:10. > :34:12.where he doesn't split too many reds.
:34:13. > :34:17.He has played the one to open the reds up and he has got a pretty good
:34:18. > :34:35.length with the cue ball. If he has blocked the safety path
:34:36. > :34:41.down the left hand side of the table, he has got no easy task
:34:42. > :34:53.getting the cue ball back to the baulk end.
:34:54. > :35:00.He got into it very thick to avoid that red on the right-hand side
:35:01. > :35:03.cushion. But he may have left a pot on here. Hitting it so thick took
:35:04. > :35:20.the pace out of the cue ball. Neil needs to start knocking these
:35:21. > :35:24.in. A good pot. Unintended kiss on the second red though. So it puts a
:35:25. > :35:30.bit of pressure on this blue, which I'm certain he is going to take on.
:35:31. > :35:34.Didn't want the kiss on the second red. He is looking at the black, but
:35:35. > :35:48.can he reach it? If he screws the blue in and gets
:35:49. > :35:55.the white anywhere that near the line he has the red to the left
:35:56. > :36:00.corner. But he needs a good shot. Well played. Very confidently
:36:01. > :36:32.struck. Not the best, he is OK but he has
:36:33. > :36:39.got go in and out of baulk area to avoid the brown and green.
:36:40. > :36:44.You could see him hitting that on the right hand side and it spins
:36:45. > :37:37.off. Nicely played. Neil just looking for the red after
:37:38. > :37:41.the colour. I don't think he is on this red where he could play low on
:37:42. > :37:56.the black, which he could like to play a little cannon.
:37:57. > :38:01.So is it pink and just nudge a red, or is he happy he can find a red off
:38:02. > :38:15.the black? He must be. Must be that red immediately below
:38:16. > :38:23.the pink. It didn't look as though it went.
:38:24. > :38:49.Yes, clearly goes and nicely on it. Well played.
:38:50. > :38:56.Delightful little cannon there and that's really opened things up and
:38:57. > :39:32.every chance for Neil to come right back at Mark Selby.
:39:33. > :39:47.A bit trickier, having to use the spider. Nicely played. Never the
:39:48. > :39:56.easiest implement to play with. He is at a slight angle on this black.
:39:57. > :40:01.He has got a red to the right middle. This would be the perfect
:40:02. > :40:14.reply for Neil. After what Mark did to him in the
:40:15. > :40:21.first frame. I thought there was a few signs, Denis, in the middle of
:40:22. > :40:26.the second session that neither player was winning the frame in one
:40:27. > :40:37.visit. It just needed someone to raise his game. Perfect reply this.
:40:38. > :40:46.He saw the warning signs and now will have to impose himself. It has
:40:47. > :41:05.all the potential of being an absolute classic.
:41:06. > :41:20.Just needs one more red to make sure of taking the second frame.
:41:21. > :41:27.Very well played, Neil Robertson. Mark Selby put a marker down and he
:41:28. > :41:40.has responded. What a start to this third session.
:41:41. > :41:42.Wouldn't it be nice and good for his confidence, Neil, if he could make a
:41:43. > :42:00.century? A bit awkward with a couple of reds
:42:01. > :42:17.near side cushion. They have both made two centuries.
:42:18. > :42:24.This is the last of the easy reds. A nice angle on this black now to
:42:25. > :42:51.nudge that red on the left. This is one problem ball in the
:42:52. > :43:00.open. Oh! It went in. Not three times, but knew the password. Being
:43:01. > :43:08.a left-hander the red is the wrong side of the table for Neil.
:43:09. > :43:17.When Rob Walker introduces Neil Robertson, he has now added the
:43:18. > :43:28.Centurion, because of that century of centuries in one season.
:43:29. > :43:36.He has made 102 now. What a marker he has set down. Wonderful shot. OK,
:43:37. > :43:38.he didn't try and get the cue ball away from the cushion, he knew this
:43:39. > :43:49.black would be difficult. Oh, and in the end it turned out to
:43:50. > :43:55.be just a little bit too difficult. But he will be very pleased to
:43:56. > :44:00.respond to that 100 break by Mark Selby in the first frame. He has
:44:01. > :45:10.come right back. A marvellous 85. But he still trails by two.
:45:11. > :45:30.Neil likes playing in China, made his two maximum breaks out there.
:45:31. > :45:42.Mark's turn to break off and both players in fine form. But not the
:45:43. > :45:46.best break-off shot. A possible red for Neil Robertson to take on and he
:45:47. > :45:48.can get on the black and looking at the bunch, there is a red at the
:45:49. > :46:06.back that is available. This could be an important early
:46:07. > :46:09.pot. The Thunder from Down Under pots a fabulous red there and
:46:10. > :46:18.perfect on the black. Played for that red that I mentioned
:46:19. > :46:34.and now he can open the bunch up. He could leave a few on here, he
:46:35. > :46:38.needs to be careful with the white. You never can guarantee exactly
:46:39. > :46:44.where it is going to finish when you play that type of shot. But look at
:46:45. > :46:54.that white. Stopped and then the top spin took effect.
:46:55. > :47:03.That is a little unlucky. If they're all covered into the left corner he
:47:04. > :47:11.may take the red he can in the right corner pocket.
:47:12. > :47:30.When he starts playing well, he gets pretty close to these. Oh! Well, I
:47:31. > :47:36.think Neil thought this was in. So close. But he knew by playing that
:47:37. > :48:14.red he wasn't going to leave anything for Mark.
:48:15. > :48:25.The target for Neil would be in behind the pink.
:48:26. > :48:33.That is the path he would be looking for. Well he hasn't got the angle to
:48:34. > :48:41.swing it over to that side of the table, but that's not bad. I say it
:48:42. > :48:46.is not bad there is a safety shot for Mark Selby and a possible pot
:48:47. > :48:51.into the left corner. He is coming around to see if he played for the
:48:52. > :49:10.black, what would he leave? He is back looking at the safety
:49:11. > :49:25.shot. It is the safety that he decides on
:49:26. > :49:29.in the end. If he misses the brown and hits the pink full ball, he
:49:30. > :49:51.could have a snooker. Well, half ball, not a snooker.
:49:52. > :49:59.You've got to hit these perfect, otherwise the red goes back up the
:50:00. > :50:04.table with the cue ball. That is pretty good. OK, he's not even
:50:05. > :50:08.reached the baulk line, but that was a very dangerous shot he had to play
:50:09. > :50:24.there. And he will be content that he has not left a pot on.
:50:25. > :50:32.A bit thin. Ooh, good kiss on the green, is it? He will be happy with
:50:33. > :50:48.that. Because it wasn't his best safety. But the green helped.
:50:49. > :50:59.This looks like a Neil Robertson special coming up here. Wow! What a
:51:00. > :51:04.shot! And unlucky to cannon the yellow. But you won't see many
:51:05. > :51:10.better pots than that. He had to cue this so well. That was the distance,
:51:11. > :51:14.but it was the accuracy of that shot and the back spin that he got on it
:51:15. > :51:24.and unlucky to flick the yellow like that.
:51:25. > :51:34.It could pay dividends and Mark was fortunate, he kissed the green, but
:51:35. > :51:39.as you say, that was a Neil Robertson special and once he starts
:51:40. > :51:43.knocking them in, he really puts pressure on every safety shot that
:51:44. > :51:49.Mark Selby is going to play. If he has got his potting boots on, Neil
:51:50. > :51:56.Robertson, there is hardly anything safe on the table.
:51:57. > :52:03.To land on a red, I think he will leave a pot on, which ever one he
:52:04. > :52:08.tries. If he tries the one on the left side, he will leave the two
:52:09. > :52:11.reds for the middle pocket. If he tries to land on the four reds
:52:12. > :52:15.together, if he lands in the back of those, he will leave the one to the
:52:16. > :52:17.left of the black to the right corner. He will do well to get out
:52:18. > :52:44.of this. If he just touches that red he may
:52:45. > :52:49.have got away with it. Just needed a another roll and it would have been
:52:50. > :52:54.safe. Well, he is having it replaced. The problem is as we know,
:52:55. > :52:59.he was just a bit short of pace. Only an inch. But you try to get
:53:00. > :53:01.that extra bit of pace and it can just come off the cushion slightly
:53:02. > :53:12.different. We sill see if sat-nav Selby can do
:53:13. > :53:30.it this time. Oh, he is just going to come up
:53:31. > :53:50.short again and this time he can get through that red.
:53:51. > :53:54.Just depejds on the angle -- depends on the angle he has. He has a choice
:53:55. > :54:08.of colours to play. He is taking the pot on, because he
:54:09. > :54:12.knows, if you put Mark Selby back in he could get it safe. And played it
:54:13. > :54:24.with a lot of confidence that red to the middle. So he has a 26 point
:54:25. > :54:26.lead already. As we see that red and he played it very confidently.
:54:27. > :54:50.Perfect on the blue. This blue will put him 31 points in
:54:51. > :55:03.front. He is looking at the best way to attack these reds.
:55:04. > :55:12.It is certainly not straight forward. Coming up to a minute
:55:13. > :55:18.thinking about this. He could take the bull by the horns and pot the
:55:19. > :55:21.blue and cannon into the four reds to the left. But he may have spotted
:55:22. > :55:31.something else. Well, he played to screw into those
:55:32. > :55:37.four reds and it has all gone wrong. Just didn't quite get enough screw
:55:38. > :55:43.on this. He was hoping to swing it over and catch the four reds. Nearly
:55:44. > :55:56.went in off. But he is out of position now.
:55:57. > :56:03.If he catches this thin he could get behind the pink. Has he got enough
:56:04. > :56:15.pace? Not quite. He will be disappointed that he
:56:16. > :56:27.didn't find a red to follow. I didn't see the necessity of this.
:56:28. > :56:30.If you can't get into the reds, he could have played a more careful
:56:31. > :56:39.positional shot. That is a pretty good safety from
:56:40. > :57:02.Mark. Now it is two get get the white
:57:03. > :57:11.behind the pink that will gain the advantage. Mark's looking to see if
:57:12. > :57:12.he took the pot on could he play for the black and maybe not leave
:57:13. > :57:37.anything. He is looking at potting the red and
:57:38. > :57:41.trying to get off the side cushion for the black. But now he is back
:57:42. > :57:43.looking at the safety shot. If he does play the safety shot, every
:57:44. > :58:00.chance he will get behind the pink. He is back at the first shot he
:58:01. > :58:06.wanted to play. What puts him off about the pot, I think he thinks the
:58:07. > :58:15.pot's OK to go for. But he is hampered by the pink.
:58:16. > :58:24.Trying to get behind the pink and a possible plant. The main priority is
:58:25. > :58:27.get back to the baulk cushion. Using the yellow and brown will do. Neil
:58:28. > :59:06.Robertson in a spot of bother here. I don't know if that angle was
:59:07. > :59:11.there. I think the middle pocket was in the way. He is going to have it
:59:12. > :59:14.put back, but he has had to go so close to the corner of the middle
:59:15. > :59:32.pocket. That is how close he has to get to
:59:33. > :59:49.the middle pocket. He has got it this time. If it is
:59:50. > :59:51.dead straight, there is no value in trying to pot this along the
:59:52. > :00:15.cushion. Trying to get behind the pink again.
:00:16. > :00:18.He hasn't hit it hard enough. Still safe though. But that is what he was
:00:19. > :00:58.looking for. Well, it was a pretty good effort
:00:59. > :01:05.and playing at that pace is why he swung the cue ball wide. He wasn't
:01:06. > :01:10.far from the pot. The one thing Neil Robertson does not want to do at the
:01:11. > :01:16.moment, he doesn't want to open the cluster of reds. He has a 27 point
:01:17. > :01:19.lead. If you made a mistake, he doesn't want to gift him an
:01:20. > :01:27.opportunity by having all the reds open. He would want Mark to work for
:01:28. > :01:35.his points. Playing the cross double here.
:01:36. > :01:48.He did play with a lot of right-hand side. And not a burgeoning. Yes,
:01:49. > :01:49.this is a complete contrast to the two opening frames where they were
:01:50. > :02:59.one with -- won one visit. He wasn't far away from the double
:03:00. > :03:20.case. In the end, not the best safety. -- double kiss.
:03:21. > :03:25.He is looking at the red on the right-hand side of the table but it
:03:26. > :03:40.would be a very risky pot to take on.
:03:41. > :03:48.But the red on the side of the table could be an obstacle if he decided
:03:49. > :03:54.to return back to baulk. So, playing this with a lot of left-hand side to
:03:55. > :03:59.avoid the double kiss. He doesn't really want to be bringing that
:04:00. > :04:09.across. Now we can see a possible hot but too risky.
:04:10. > :04:21.Well, there was always the chance he was going to knock the red over the
:04:22. > :04:27.corner. He has been lucky. He has snookered mark with the green. He
:04:28. > :04:35.could never have planned that. Absolutely amazing. You could play
:04:36. > :04:41.that for all week and you wouldn't be able to get it in behind the
:04:42. > :04:46.green where it is sitting. I am just wondering if Mark might have to come
:04:47. > :04:53.off the cushion and try and just hit this red that is over the pocket. If
:04:54. > :04:54.he leaves the white near the jaws of the left corner pocket, or would it
:04:55. > :05:11.be safe? If he comes off a couple of cushion
:05:12. > :05:16.and lands in the bunch of reds, he would leave that one that is over
:05:17. > :05:17.the pocket. So, it is a bit of a problem and he may just have to take
:05:18. > :05:30.a while to sort it out. Yes, I think I am with you, Dennis.
:05:31. > :05:38.I think I would try to hit the red over the corner. You could even
:05:39. > :05:42.knock it in if you were lucky. But I don't think he can try to hit
:05:43. > :05:52.another red and not leave the red over the right corner.
:05:53. > :06:01.It really is tough but he is looking to see if the blue is in his way and
:06:02. > :06:10.that might be what the problem is. The blue is certainly not far off
:06:11. > :06:12.being in his line. I think that is how close he would have to get to
:06:13. > :06:50.the blue. If he hits the blue, smile as well. I think he is going
:06:51. > :07:04.to try and shot I suggested. He went the other side of the blue.
:07:05. > :07:20.And if he had hit it harder, he would have got in behind it.
:07:21. > :07:28.He was lucky to get the snooker behind the green. I always say, if
:07:29. > :07:34.you have a little bit of luck, take full advantage because it can to
:07:35. > :07:40.turn the other way. -- it can quickly turn the other way. The way
:07:41. > :07:44.Mark tried to get out of it was that line. I thought he might have gone
:07:45. > :07:59.the other side of the blue with a little bit of side. Olivia Marquez,
:08:00. > :08:10.he said "are you happy? " " Not at all!" This is a great effort. Sat
:08:11. > :08:23.Nav Selby strikes again. Everybody enjoyed that escape. With
:08:24. > :09:01.the exception of Neil, I would say. It would be a brave man to play off
:09:02. > :09:05.any other red, other than the one closest to the cue ball. You would
:09:06. > :09:12.have to cover it and there is no guarantee of that. He is looking to
:09:13. > :09:17.see if he got the cue ball up that end whether he could use the red
:09:18. > :09:26.further up the table as a blocker, but as I say, very risky. Very
:09:27. > :09:29.risky. But he obviously doesn't like the look of playing safe off the red
:09:30. > :09:50.near the pocket. It was heading back
:09:51. > :10:26.again. He has covered the one that was over the pocket.
:10:27. > :10:32.He can see the edge of the red near the pocket, but if he tries to play
:10:33. > :10:40.down, he will just double kiss the Wyke. -- the white. The other thing
:10:41. > :10:44.may be to try and plant one onto the other one. He is looking to see what
:10:45. > :10:56.he might leave if he tried that. It is a bit of a problem.
:10:57. > :11:04.He played the thin edge and he got the double kiss. That was always on.
:11:05. > :11:09.I think he can get to the potting angle of the one that is near the
:11:10. > :11:11.bunch but to avoid the double kiss there was going to be very, very
:11:12. > :11:22.difficult. He could only see the edge of it but
:11:23. > :11:34.he couldn't get a white out of the way without the double kiss.
:11:35. > :11:50.This green and brown making it very awkward viewing. -- awkward viewing.
:11:51. > :12:00.If he has got a decent angle on the blue, it won't be too bad. The
:12:01. > :12:01.referee was watching very closely to see whether Newell was touching the
:12:02. > :12:16.green. -- Neil. It bounced off the top cushion. He
:12:17. > :12:32.played it nicely. A good shot. He just had a quick glance to see
:12:33. > :12:35.one of the reds close to the cushion, to the right of the black,
:12:36. > :12:47.is available in a couple of shots time. He just got an angle on the
:12:48. > :12:52.black now. And there is one at the back and do the right of that little
:12:53. > :13:00.branch that is available. -- little hunch. -- little bunch. This should
:13:01. > :13:26.bring a few more reds interplay. You are never sure when you play
:13:27. > :13:41.that sort of cannon. He is hampered now.
:13:42. > :13:47.You have to keep your cue ball and object ball in your eye line so your
:13:48. > :14:04.eyes darting from one to the other. If you had to do a little bit with
:14:05. > :14:09.the cue ball, that would have been a very difficult shot. But he always
:14:10. > :14:15.knew the red was over the left middle. Just got to adjust the pace
:14:16. > :14:26.of this. It pots easy. He needs to be an colour. -- on a colour. That
:14:27. > :14:29.is pretty good. OK, he has not got the right angle on the blue but it
:14:30. > :14:36.was never very an easy shot to judge. He won't be as close as he
:14:37. > :14:43.would like to on the next intended red but this blue will put him 59
:14:44. > :14:47.point in front. He's just the wrong side of straight which is the worst
:14:48. > :15:01.site to be. He is trying to find a spot where
:15:02. > :15:08.the colours that are at the other end of the table will not be in the
:15:09. > :15:13.table when he leaned over it. And the better position was to come back
:15:14. > :15:16.here but being a left-hander, I think he will be OK with the yellow
:15:17. > :15:28.and pink as he leans across the table. So, this would clinch this
:15:29. > :15:33.brain. -- this frame. Watch the red. A nice little much on the other
:15:34. > :15:38.red. He hasn't got the right notch. He still has the pink though but he
:15:39. > :15:43.would rather be on the black. He is 60 in front, a quick glance at the
:15:44. > :15:46.scoreboard, he is not safe yet. If the hits that 4-ball, he is perfect
:15:47. > :16:12.on the black. -- full ball. Just looking at the shot, you take
:16:13. > :16:23.it for granted, you don't think the gap is there.
:16:24. > :16:32.In the end, he decided he didn't want to risk the pink. It surprises
:16:33. > :16:42.me a little bit. He put the pink safe. He has quite a few awkward
:16:43. > :16:49.reds. 65 in front with just 75 remaining is a decent lead. He has
:16:50. > :16:58.to be careful this red doesn't come across and knock the black say. --
:16:59. > :17:07.black safe. And it has put the black awkward. That is a good tube will
:17:08. > :17:22.but it is difficult to avoid canning into the black.
:17:23. > :17:28.He has got the pink buddy pushed never cushion. Mark accidentally
:17:29. > :17:35.knocked the black near the cushion so it is not going to be... I think
:17:36. > :17:38.he has got away with this, Dennis. The blue is blocking the path. These
:17:39. > :17:45.two reds don't go to the left corner. And not only has he got away
:17:46. > :17:50.with it, he has not left an easy safety shot for Mark Andy card
:17:51. > :17:51.afford to leave Neil Robertson another chance so that would been
:17:52. > :18:09.frame over. Mark Selby not blessed with the run
:18:10. > :18:12.of the ball but it is a long match and that is why we save the World
:18:13. > :18:17.Championship brings out the luck -- the best player. It should even out
:18:18. > :18:39.over a match as long as this. He looks like he is playing the
:18:40. > :18:46.plant. And he got it. He hit the ball perfect. OK, the second red has
:18:47. > :18:54.gone against the cushion, it would make his task any easier, but what a
:18:55. > :18:58.shot to take on and to get. A brilliant plant and he has got a bit
:18:59. > :19:00.of a chance here. He could get the black into play after he puts the
:19:01. > :19:14.blue here. So two reds, if he was to play on
:19:15. > :19:17.the black and roll it in, I don't think the reds are available into
:19:18. > :19:28.the right corner pocket. So, maybe a change of plan. He is now looking at
:19:29. > :19:42.those two reds. One of them must go the way he walked around the table.
:19:43. > :19:49.But neither are going to be easy. I'm not sure if both of them pot. He
:19:50. > :20:00.would love the one away from the cushion.
:20:01. > :20:08.He needed to knock that in. And maybe just maybe, as we show you
:20:09. > :20:17.this to read thick pot, he might be able to bring the other red into
:20:18. > :20:23.play near the pocket. He will be disappointed that he missed the
:20:24. > :20:28.cannon. But what a pot that was of the red. I am surprised he didn't
:20:29. > :20:44.get the cannon. I think for a moment, he thought it
:20:45. > :20:53.wasn't going to drop but he did and he is nicely on the black. Look at
:20:54. > :20:57.this. Now, trying to push that through. We always say these are the
:20:58. > :21:06.difficult ones, when they are just off the cushion. He just has to drop
:21:07. > :21:14.this in dead weight. It have to be very accurate. Well played. This is
:21:15. > :21:20.remarkable. I didn't think he would get this far. Well, listen, if he
:21:21. > :21:28.can move the red after putting the bat, what a chance. -- the black. He
:21:29. > :21:31.got it but has he put it on? It was always going to be difficult but
:21:32. > :21:35.just looking at the angle, if he tries to put it to the left hand
:21:36. > :21:40.corner, I don't think he will go in office but he might catch the corner
:21:41. > :21:45.of that middle pocket. But some of the balls he has put it here, when
:21:46. > :21:51.he came to the table he had nothing to go out and he took a difficult
:21:52. > :21:59.plant on. I don't think he is fine, he is just playing a safety shot.
:22:00. > :22:08.And he has got himself somehow back into this frame with some remarkable
:22:09. > :22:12.potting. That was a great contribution. I own is a bit
:22:13. > :22:18.surprised to didn't take the red onto the left corner. -- I am a
:22:19. > :22:23.little bit surprised. He had the momentum there and I thought, you
:22:24. > :22:25.just get that feeling that you can put everything the way it was going.
:22:26. > :22:52.His decision, though. Well, he is faced with another tough
:22:53. > :23:07.shot. This is probably more difficult than the one he refused.
:23:08. > :23:18.And when you take that type of shot on, you will be lucky to leave it
:23:19. > :23:28.safe. I think he got a kick there. It sounded like a kick. Yes, the
:23:29. > :23:33.ball is definitely did jump but I don't know whether he made the
:23:34. > :23:46.correct contact their anywhere. Just a red and a black needed. So, yes,
:23:47. > :23:50.Mark Selby, well, a 38 break. Out of this world to get back within the
:23:51. > :23:57.frame but just want to push the boat out too far. And he might not get
:23:58. > :24:01.another chance now. This black will put Neil Robertson 30 points in
:24:02. > :24:04.front with 27 remaining. Though, only one snooker needed. And that is
:24:05. > :24:13.while why Niall is given this a lot of
:24:14. > :24:27.thought. This is going to be the longest
:24:28. > :25:07.frame of the match. A fascinating frame after the two
:25:08. > :25:38.opening frames we had. Just one snooker needed.
:25:39. > :25:50.That was such a tough shot sheet tried. It was difficult to get in
:25:51. > :26:00.behind the black there. He would normally have a go at this yellow.
:26:01. > :26:12.But he didn't. He decided to keep it tight.
:26:13. > :26:19.Not easy to get a snooker from that position. He will have to bend this
:26:20. > :26:30.slightly. Watch how it comes around the blue.
:26:31. > :26:40.That or the pink into a better position. Almost! He was urging it
:26:41. > :26:57.to get behind the pink! You are not allowed to talk to the balls!
:26:58. > :27:28.I tell you what, if the yellow misses the blue, if it misses the
:27:29. > :27:35.blue... Oh, he has gone behind the blue, believe it or not. Surely,
:27:36. > :27:42.there was not a gap there. There will be a gap!
:27:43. > :27:53.There is a gap. The thing is, if he has two bend it slightly, you know,
:27:54. > :28:02.he could hit the blue or he could even slide past the yellow. If that
:28:03. > :28:09.yellow had missed the blue, what a tough snooker it would have been.
:28:10. > :28:18.So, a very relieved Neil Robertson hit that yellow there. There are
:28:19. > :28:22.plenty of balls to snooker behind. The pink is still not quite out of
:28:23. > :28:27.commission. You would want to a little further away from the
:28:28. > :28:37.cushion. The green is not in playful snookers.
:28:38. > :29:05.Ideally, Niall doesn't want to knock the Jell-o to the born-again because
:29:06. > :29:07.there are so many balls to snooker behind but I don't see how he can
:29:08. > :29:20.avoid it, really. He doesn't want to leave the pot on
:29:21. > :29:25.because the mark camp at the yellow weather green is, he can get himself
:29:26. > :29:29.into a good position and get the snooker behind the brown. He is
:29:30. > :29:35.having to keep the Jell-o safe as well here, Neil Robertson. --
:29:36. > :29:56.yellow. It is a snooker but it is an easy
:29:57. > :30:06.hit. It should have hit the yellow full in the face. That wasn't too
:30:07. > :30:10.difficult. At this standard, you don't accept them to miss so if you
:30:11. > :30:21.get a snooker, you need to cut off that one cushion escape. Is there a
:30:22. > :30:23.possibility here that Mark can get the cue ball in behind the pink?
:30:24. > :30:41.That would really be a good shot. It has worked out OK. Thank you very
:30:42. > :30:50.much! That was a result! He apologised, held his hand arm. --
:30:51. > :30:59.hand up. This is far from easy to hit.
:31:00. > :31:03.Just a bit of noise. Maybe someone not feeling too well. Just having a
:31:04. > :31:20.look to see. OK, back to the problem for Neil
:31:21. > :31:25.Robertson. He comes off the left hand side cushion. Lot of right hand
:31:26. > :31:30.side. He has got a couple of chances of hitting it. If he misses it on
:31:31. > :31:39.the way going, he can hit it on the way back. Yes, he has hit that in
:31:40. > :31:41.all honesty. It was like a trick shot that. The natural angle wasn't
:31:42. > :31:49.there. He played that like you would play a
:31:50. > :32:12.trick shot and didn't he judge it well?
:32:13. > :32:19.There is a chance to get in behind the pink and if he gets the green up
:32:20. > :32:23.the table and the white behind the pink, it really will be tough to get
:32:24. > :32:32.out of. But it needs perfect judgment. Coming up to just over 47
:32:33. > :32:35.minutes. It is the second longest frame of this year's World
:32:36. > :32:52.Championship. We had a 74 minute frame, Ricky
:32:53. > :32:56.Walden against Kieron Wilson. That was a chance. I remember that, I
:32:57. > :33:00.comment tapted on that. -- commentated on that. It was only one
:33:01. > :33:11.minute short of the longest frame ever at the Crucible.
:33:12. > :33:24.In goes the cue ball. Would you believe it? He has snookered
:33:25. > :33:29.himself! But it's a case of three or four point snookers required as he
:33:30. > :33:38.looks at the score board. In all honesty, I would be amazed if he
:33:39. > :33:44.didn't hit the brown. It is a one cushion escape.
:33:45. > :33:49.I prefer the right hand side, if you're hitting the cushion quick,
:33:50. > :34:07.you never judge it that well. Zwr Yeah, nicely done. As I say, now
:34:08. > :34:18.31 the difference, 22 remaining. Three snookers required.
:34:19. > :34:24.Psychologically it is always great to win a long frame.
:34:25. > :34:40.If you lose it you're always a bit down on yourself. The white has
:34:41. > :34:50.finished up on the cushion. He will still take it on. We were saying
:34:51. > :34:54.that the best -- didn't have the best of run of the ball. But he had
:34:55. > :34:59.that luck when he got the snooker behind the pink. But a good escape
:35:00. > :35:05.from Neil. Sometimes you get a bit of luck and it can help you win a
:35:06. > :35:13.frame and sometimes your opponent just manages to escape.
:35:14. > :35:18.The most important thing is winning a long frame like this. You want
:35:19. > :35:24.some reward for your efforts and Mark Selby is not going to get any.
:35:25. > :35:35.I can't fancy him winning this frame.
:35:36. > :35:44.When you get to the blue, you get five points for a snooker. Two
:35:45. > :35:57.five-point snookers on the blue would do it. But it is a big ask.
:35:58. > :36:05.Seven hours for the match time. And we have had some fascinating
:36:06. > :36:07.snooker. We have had clearances, both players made two century
:36:08. > :36:20.breaks. Oh, he has over cut it. Can you
:36:21. > :36:31.believe it? Now Mark Selby can pot the brown.
:36:32. > :36:50.The pink is not good, so he will have to try and get behind the
:36:51. > :36:58.black. That has left the blue and the white.
:36:59. > :37:17.Very well done. He will be relieved and the players look at each other
:37:18. > :37:21.and Mark Selby concedes and the world number one has battled his way
:37:22. > :37:29.back again. He is now just one frame behind at 10-9. We had two opening
:37:30. > :37:33.frames there with the players won the frame with one visit and there
:37:34. > :37:37.was so much happened in that frame and this is what, he is in trouble
:37:38. > :37:41.here and he is playing a thin safety shot, trying to get the white
:37:42. > :37:47.anywhere up near that baulk cushion and he hit it probably maybe just a
:37:48. > :37:53.little thin. It was still a good shot. But he pushed the red over the
:37:54. > :37:57.pocket and the lavs thing -- last thing he thought would happen here,
:37:58. > :38:03.John, was for the white the nestle in behind the green. And he could
:38:04. > :38:09.have been there all week and not got that result. It was a result. Any
:38:10. > :38:18.way, it is keeping it nice and tight. And enthralling. We will
:38:19. > :38:23.leave you a few moments to go over the stats. Look at the pot success
:38:24. > :38:29.rate, Mark Selby is still at 93%. That is excellent. Neil has just
:38:30. > :38:34.dropped down under 90%. But there is not much between them. Look at the
:38:35. > :38:39.safety success rate, both at 81%. They're so evenly matched these
:38:40. > :38:43.boys. You sense this could go right to the very last frame. I wouldn't
:38:44. > :38:48.be surprised. Because every time he goes three frames ahead, the world
:38:49. > :38:55.number one battles his way back again. If you were looking at those
:38:56. > :38:58.stats there, that 93%, 89% Robertson, that is the difference
:38:59. > :39:04.and that is why Neil Robertson throughout the match has been
:39:05. > :39:07.playing catch up. Stephen Hendry came out with a point yesterday, his
:39:08. > :39:11.opinion, he thought it would be a very close match, because he didn't
:39:12. > :39:17.see either one of those players doing a run where they could win
:39:18. > :39:21.three or four frames on the trot if you like. I see what he means. But
:39:22. > :39:26.Neil Robertson during this Championship has had periods like
:39:27. > :39:30.that where he has God three or four frames and not looked like missing a
:39:31. > :39:36.ball. He has not done it in this match yet. But he did it against
:39:37. > :39:41.Judd trump when he was behind. When that comes, can Mark Selby cope with
:39:42. > :39:46.it? That is the question, will the barrage come. And will it come, yes.
:39:47. > :39:52.Mark Selby has won everything in the game. Three times a Masters
:39:53. > :39:57.champion, a UK champion. The one he want is the World Championship. He
:39:58. > :40:05.is against the world number one, who has lifted the title. So with
:40:06. > :40:10.regards to experience, you could say that Neil Robertson would be a
:40:11. > :40:14.slight favourite. But Mark still has that one-frame advantage and he
:40:15. > :40:21.looks very focussed, very determined and meanwhile Neil after that very
:40:22. > :40:26.long frame has been out of the arena for quite some time. We are going to
:40:27. > :40:35.have an interval after this next frame. All the crowd just standing
:40:36. > :40:40.up and having, it doesn't sound right, standing up to have a rest. I
:40:41. > :40:45.thought only horses did that! But just stretching the legs. When we
:40:46. > :40:53.look at Mark Selby, he has won every major thing in the game. Apart from
:40:54. > :40:57.the World Championship. We we he is good enough. But we say that about
:40:58. > :41:01.players. Best player never to win a World Championship. You don't want
:41:02. > :41:04.that mantle. Jimmy White has been carrying that around his neck for
:41:05. > :41:09.many years. When you get your opportunity and this is a big one,
:41:10. > :41:16.you have got to grasp it with two hands. So last frame of this, well a
:41:17. > :41:27.mid session interval. Neil Robertson would be delighted if
:41:28. > :41:38.he went into that interval all square.
:41:39. > :41:45.I wouldn't think for a moment Ronnie O'Sullivan would be watching this,
:41:46. > :41:50.but he would like these boys to have every frame lasting over 40 minutes
:41:51. > :41:53.slam He has got the day off and will be getting rdy for the final. --
:41:54. > :42:03.ready for the final. How much will this match take out of
:42:04. > :42:24.them? There is still a clear path to baulk
:42:25. > :42:50.down the left hand side. There is the red over the corner.
:42:51. > :42:51.And he has not quite got the length. If this is just off straight, this
:42:52. > :43:28.is a chance for Mark. Has he found it? He is unlucky. He
:43:29. > :43:37.is just a fraction away of finishing on the black there. Just over ran.
:43:38. > :43:53.But it was an excellent pot. Both players will be happy. They
:43:54. > :43:55.have not made too many mistakes. It has been an excellent first three
:43:56. > :44:17.frames. It is the first to 17 that goes
:44:18. > :44:56.through to Sunday's final. Can't see a path back down the table
:44:57. > :45:04.from that position. The brown looks off the -- the brown looks in the
:45:05. > :45:12.way. That is why he has been thinking about this shot for one
:45:13. > :45:18.minute and 20 seconds and counting. There is those two reds below the
:45:19. > :45:22.black. He may be possible. Let's look from Neil's point of view.
:45:23. > :45:31.You're right, no path back to baulk there.
:45:32. > :45:43.He is up quick. Well, he has left a pot on here. He has left a pot to
:45:44. > :45:49.the right corner. His value in -- there is value in taking it on. He
:45:50. > :45:54.will screw back and cannon the red next to it and every chance he can
:45:55. > :45:55.finish on the blue and if he gets too much screw, he has the green
:45:56. > :46:21.there. Yeah, difficult to judge. He has
:46:22. > :46:25.left that one that is to the left of the blue. When they're that close
:46:26. > :46:32.together, using the extension on the rest, it is tough to judge. Tough to
:46:33. > :46:44.judge, but in all honesty, I expected him to be closer than that.
:46:45. > :46:49.So Mark Selby had half a chance there. This is a good chance now for
:46:50. > :47:02.Neil. The black is not on its spot, but
:47:03. > :47:10.the pink is ot v in the open. -- but the pink is in the open.
:47:11. > :47:26.How many can he score? He has a chance if he wishes to roll this red
:47:27. > :47:31.in. And can then drop on to the black. He is having a look at it. He
:47:32. > :47:39.has other options, but if he was to get the black back on to its spot,
:47:40. > :47:41.look as if he is going to forget about that and concentrate on the
:47:42. > :48:40.pink and blue. Let's see how he gets on the red
:48:41. > :48:42.this time. Just gone a little too far again on that red to the right
:48:43. > :49:11.of the black. This time it is the wrong side of
:49:12. > :49:15.the blue, but it shouldn't be a problem, there is no brown in the
:49:16. > :49:27.way to cannon into when he comes off the baulk cushion. But there is not
:49:28. > :49:30.many reds to drop on. The two to the left of the black would be his
:49:31. > :49:45.target here. Well, what has he done there? He has
:49:46. > :49:50.played it with side. He has got down and missed a sitter. I don't know if
:49:51. > :49:58.it kicked or not. He is looking at the cue ball. Did it jump? Let's
:49:59. > :50:05.have a look. Hard to tell from that angle. I mean it was a poor shot. He
:50:06. > :50:10.has played it with lots of right-hand side and kicked the blue
:50:11. > :50:17.off to the left. That is why the players, the modern day players on
:50:18. > :50:20.these is super fine cloth don't like using side, but unforgiveable to
:50:21. > :50:34.miss that. A big chance he has missed there.
:50:35. > :50:42.But the black is not available now, because that red is around to the
:50:43. > :50:49.right of it. The pink, well, not too bad.
:50:50. > :50:57.The blue not too bad either. That red that is closest to the pink must
:50:58. > :51:06.be available, but he wanted to be straighter on it. Just enough room,
:51:07. > :51:17.but the straighter the pot, the easier it would be from that angle.
:51:18. > :51:21.He is going cannon the pink as well if he is going to take it on. He is
:51:22. > :51:45.looking from both sides. Just goes. Well played. Not perfect. But he got
:51:46. > :51:47.the main part of the shot. He is going to go up past the green and
:51:48. > :51:57.back up to the reds again. The gap's OK this time. And he has
:51:58. > :52:23.found the gap. Decided to play for the blue and he
:52:24. > :52:29.judged that nicely. Just bounced a little bit. This is the type of shot
:52:30. > :52:35.that if he had caught the loose red full-ball, he may have been on
:52:36. > :52:41.nothing. But he found the gap and got a lovely line.
:52:42. > :52:47.Just enough angle on the blue. But he tried to force it round, but it
:52:48. > :52:51.just caught the cue ball, it just caught the jaw of the pocket which
:52:52. > :52:56.took it back up the side cushion. Just watch the cue ball. Just
:52:57. > :53:01.catches the jaw of the pocket and that is what keeps it clinging to
:53:02. > :53:04.the side cushion. So this red is on. But where the cue ball is is a very
:53:05. > :53:27.tough shot. I think you are sometimes wise to
:53:28. > :53:30.refuse these. If he could roll the red in and be on the pink, fine.
:53:31. > :53:31.refuse these. If he could roll the if he can't, it might be a risk too
:53:32. > :54:05.far. Mark studying for some time now. It
:54:06. > :54:10.is the way the frames have gone. One with one visit. He is still thinking
:54:11. > :54:27.about the loose red. It was a dangerous shot to take on.
:54:28. > :54:33.He has thought better of it and I don't blame him. In the end he has
:54:34. > :54:36.played a clever shot. And brought the black into play. Which has
:54:37. > :54:59.opened the game up somewhat. He looked to see if this red would
:55:00. > :55:02.cut past the black. But what a good shot that is. Because he would have
:55:03. > :55:16.sent that red towards the corner pocket, where the black is and that
:55:17. > :55:31.was judged perfectly. To hit that shot that thin, it is a good shot.
:55:32. > :55:36.You don't want to hit into the reds too hard. He has a good line. Has he
:55:37. > :55:56.got the pace? Foul and a miss. Oh! He is asking for blue ball to be
:55:57. > :56:00.cleaned, because he thinks that's what caused him to miss it before.
:56:01. > :56:08.But I'm certain he is going to have this replaced. Having the blue
:56:09. > :56:16.cleaned first. He is think thinking about that shot here that he played.
:56:17. > :56:22.And well, maybe he did get a kick. He has put right-hand side on and it
:56:23. > :56:31.is so close it will push the object ball to the left. Hitting it that
:56:32. > :56:34.hard you can get a bit of bruising on the blue. But the point is he has
:56:35. > :56:47.had it replaced. He needs a fraction more speed. Has
:56:48. > :56:54.he got it this time? Has he got it this time? Foul and a miss. Well,
:56:55. > :57:03.what are we going to have cleaned first? No, we will just put the ball
:57:04. > :57:08.back. He can have as many goes at this as he wants, because he can't
:57:09. > :57:17.see a red on. So three misses and you lose the frame doesn't apply.
:57:18. > :57:27.If he overhits it he could nudge a red on. Well, he is shorter this
:57:28. > :57:31.time. He is getting further away and these points all add up. They can
:57:32. > :57:37.make the difference at the end of a frame, whether you just need the
:57:38. > :57:44.blue or the pink. If it ever gets to that stage. Well there you see it,
:57:45. > :57:46.the fourth attempt. He might get a big clear if he does reach it this
:57:47. > :58:03.time. Yes, he has got it this time. Just
:58:04. > :58:09.flexing his muscle to show he had the strength to reach the red. That
:58:10. > :58:24.is why they call him the Jester from Leicester.
:58:25. > :58:31.We have come to the end of your time here on BBC Two this morning. But it
:58:32. > :58:36.continues live on the red button and online. Thereafter we will be back
:58:37. > :58:43.on BBC1 at quarter past 1 this afternoon. For continued coverage of
:58:44. > :58:47.this enthralling match, they haven't got to the interval and we are
:58:48. > :58:51.already two hours into this session. This could run and run. We are
:58:52. > :58:53.looking forward to seeing you at quarter past one. But goodbye for
:58:54. > :59:17.now. Does anybody know
:59:18. > :59:21.exactly what they're eating?